@Vorn, it wasn't over the "wasted tax dollars" arguement, but I indeed found myself verbally slapping someone for using his death as a platform to complain about NASA employing nazi scientists. First time in a while I've got an apology with having to be looming and intimidating.

In other news, it's nice to know someone is still doing the research to make laser guided attack fish a reality...

On July 18 of 1969, as the world waited anxiously for Apollo 11 to land safely on the surface of the Moon, speechwriter William Safire imagined the worst case scenario as he expertly wrote the following sombre memo to President Nixon's Chief of Staff, H. R. Haldeman. Its contents: a contingency plan, in the form of a speech to be read out by Nixon should astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon, never to return, followed by some brief instructions relating to its broadcast. Luckily for all those involved, the memo was never needed.

The Leap thing is good, but seems to have a lot of limitations, however it also has a very high level of accuracy for that kind of device. I was chatting to the inventor guy at Siggraph and he says they're on track, so we'll see. I think the next year or two is going to see a lot of interesting new things in this direction. Now we just need a new system for displaying the stuff... google glass is the right direction, but needs to be more.

"Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, and Dan Savage, writer of the Savage Love column, met at Savage's home in Seattle for dinner and a debate over same-sex marriage and the Bible.

"this damage is normally kept in check by two vital control mechanisms: an enzyme that mops up the toxic breakdown product (acetaldehyde) and a group of proteins that recognise and repair damaged DNA. Mice lacking both these protective mechanisms develop bone marrow failure, due to obliteration of their blood stem cells."

Only a problem if you have a genetic disorder that takes out both of those controls. If you don't flush red after two sips of wine, you don't have such a disorder, and can drink without destroying your bone marrow DNA.

In a disturbing report out of Georgia, prosecutors say four U.S. soldiers plotted to overthrow the government and assassinate President Obama. Details remain slim about the case, but the AP's Russ Bynum says the soldiers allegedly bought $87,000 worth of "guns and bomb-making materials and plotted to take over Fort Stewart, bomb targets in nearby Savannah and Washington state, as well as assassinate the president." The plot was apparently uncovered in relation to a murder case surrounding the killing of former soldier Michael Roark and his girlfriend Tiffany York in December. On Monday, Pfc. Michael Burnett, one of the accused soldiers, plead guilty to manslaughter and gang charges in the murder case. "Burnett told a Long County judge that Roark, who had just left the Army, knew of the militia group's plans and was killed because he was 'a loose end,'" reports Bynum.

According to the AP's Russ Bynum, the group calls itself F.E.A.R., which stands for Forever Enduring Always Ready. While authorities don't know how many members are in the group, they did accuse it of plotting some ambitious domestic terrorist plots:

The prosecutor said the militia group had big plans. It plotted to take over Fort Stewart by seizing its ammunition control point and talked of bombing the Forsyth Park fountain in nearby Savannah, she said. In Washington state, she added, the group plotted to bomb a dam and poison the state’s apple crop. Ultimately, prosecutors said, the militia’s goal was to overthrow the government and assassinate the president.

All are charged by state authorities with malice murder, felony murder, criminal gang activity, aggravated assault and using a firearm while committing a felony. A hearing for the three soldiers was scheduled Thursday.

An Indian company has launched what it claims is the country's first vagina tightening cream, saying it will make women feel "like a virgin" again. The company says it is about empowering women, but critics say it is doing the opposite. The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan in Mumbai reports.It is certainly a bold claim. As the music starts playing on the advertisement for the 18 Again cream, a sari-clad woman is singing and dancing.It is an unusual take on Bollywood."I feel like a virgin," she croons, although the advert makes it clear she is not.